The Fourth Kind (2009)

Director:

Olatunde Osunsanmi

Writers (WGA):

Olatunde Osunsanmi (screenplay)
Olatunde Osunsanmi (story) ...

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction.

Plot:

Fact-based thriller involving an ongoing unsolved mystery in Alaska, where one town has seen an extraordinary number of unexplained disappearances during the past 40 years and there are accusations of a federal cover up.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Abduction | Alaska | Disappearance | UFO

Cast

Milla Jovovich	...	Abbey Tyler
Will Patton	...	Sheriff August
Hakeem Kae-Kazim	...	Awolowa Odusami
Corey Johnson	...	Tommy Fisher
Enzo Cilenti	...	Scott Stracinsky
Elias Koteas	...	Abel Campos
Eric Loren	...	Deputy Ryan
Mia McKenna-Bruce	...	Ashley Tyler
Raphaël Coleman	...	Ronnie Tyler
Daphne Alexander	...	Theresa
Alisha Seaton	...	Cindy Stracinski
Tyne Rafaeli	...	Sarah Fisher
Pavel Stefanov	...	Timothy Fisher
Kiera McMaster	...	Joe Fisher
Sarah Houghton	...	Jessica

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44661) | Japan:G | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

The movie's hoaxed interviews have angered the families of real missing persons in and around Nome, Alaska, for trivializing their loss. Melanie Edwards, Vice President of Kawerak Inc (an organization representing tribal peoples in Alaska) described the movie as "insensitive to family members of people who have gone missing in Nome over the years". Universal has refused to discuss the movie with that organization or with local journalists.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Sheriff August has a beard. However, real law enforcement officers are not allowed to grow facial hair past their top lip.

Movie Connections:

References Communion (1989)

Would have been better without 'real' factor

I saw The Fourth Kind on opening night and while I'd already researched the film and become a little skeptical of its validity I was open about it. And truthfully, it wasn't a bad film. After the traumatizing death of her husband and fellow psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) heads back to their study in Nome, Alaska about sleep disorders and discovers shocking similarities. As the trailer shows, aliens might be involved. Though Milla's acting varies throughout the film from dry to wonderful (such as a scene with her in the hospital) she seems to take on the role of Tyler as bored and apathetic. But perhaps that's just because of Milla's airy, and annoying voice. So right off the bat while we're intrigued, the lead actress doesn't have us gripped. And the supporting actors do nothing to help in their way-too-stereotypical roles of the gruff hick sheriff and the doubting, condescending friend. Even with the flashes of supported archived evidence throughout the film, it just wasn't doing it for me. The showing of real evidence was also redundant, as it looks exactly like what the film portrays. Showing one or the other would have been fine but showing both in their similarities increased skepticism for me. And the film does have some eerie moments but overall nothing is answered, including your doubts, and you're just left frustrated. I think if they had left out the 'real' aspect of the film and just portrayed it as a good ol sci-fi I would have been more pleased. But they opened the door for skepticism, and that's what this film will receive. All in all, the most frightening bit of the movie is the face of the 'real' Dr. Abigail Tyler. That's what will keep you up at night.